According to media reports, the Petroleum dealers are scheduled to hold a meeting today with Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, in an effort to reach an agreement on increasing profit margins.
In response to their demands, the Petroleum dealers have been engaged in protests and have issued threats of a countrywide shutdown of stations if their requests are not met.
However, following a meeting between officials of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) and the Minister on Friday, the strike has been temporarily postponed, pending a resolution regarding the increment of the dealers’ profit margin.
A spokesperson from the PPDA clarified that no petrol stations will be closed until after the meeting, and any further course of action will be determined based on the outcome of the meeting.
Currently, the profit margin for dealers stands at 2.4 per cent or Rs6 per liter, and they are seeking a revision to 5 per cent, which amounts to nearly double the current margin.
According to Mettis Global, the PPDA Chairman, Abdul Sami Khan, pointed out that the consumer price index has escalated by 38 per cent, while electricity and other utility rates have also spiked, primarily due to the increase in the Kibor rate.
He further highlighted that a decision was made in 1999, stating that dealers would receive a 5 per cent margin on oil products. However, the government fixed the margin at Rs6 per liter, resulting in a mere 2.4 per cent profit for dealers, which has left them dissatisfied.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif wants to see his loyalist Ishaq Dar as the interim prime minister, multiple media reports have said. On the other hand, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has as yet not agreed on Dar’s nomination.
According to sources within the PPP, a “man from the Sharif family” is not suitable for the caretaker setup, Dawn has reported.
On Sunday, PML-N initiated efforts to take all stakeholders on board, including the military establishment, and assuage the concerns of the PPP leadership.
Both the major political parties, PML-N and PPP, in the ruling alliance agree that the caretaker prime minister should be a politician. The ruling party will announce a name for caretaker prime minister after consulting all the stakeholders.
On the other hand, PPP Information Secretary and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Faisal Karim Kundi, said no meeting was held between the two parties on Sunday. In a statement to ARY News, the PPP denied agreeing on Ishaq Dar becoming the caretaker prime minister, stating that no such agreement had been reached between the two parties.
On Sunday, Elon Musk announced that Twitter’s distinctive blue bird logo would be replaced with its new logo: an ‘X’. The decision is the latest in a series of controversial changes to the social media platform post Musk’s purchase, such as introducing a limit on how many tweets a user can view.
“X.com now points to twitter.com,” the CEO of Tesla tweeted on Sunday afternoon. “Interim X logo goes live later today.”
He tweeted: “And soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds”.
Musk posted an image of a flickering “X”, and later in a Twitter Spaces audio chat replied “Yes” when asked if the Twitter logo will change, adding that “it should have been done a long time ago”.
Many users have found Musk’s recent decisions regarding the platform contentious, to say the least. Some of his decisions were scrapped within days of its announcement, including scrapping the verified account “blue ticks”, while still allowing others to pay for verification. Or his plan to change the “for you” timeline to only show paid-for accounts.
The amount of criticism and backlash the billionaire’s stewardship of Twitter has received would make anyone second guess their decision. But not Musk. His decision to buy the social media platform last October, for an entire $44 billion, was spurred by his vision of creating a “super app”.
When Musk bought Twitter, he changed the company’s official name in April to X Holdings Corp, after his early venture X.com. Musk has a vision to create ‘X, the everything app’, an application that performs social media and payment functions, similar to China’s WeChat.
When he bought Twitter last October, he said the decision was “an accelerant” to creating ‘X’. Musk’s rocket company, Space Exploration Technologies Corp, is commonly known as SpaceX. And in 1999, Musk founded a startup called X.com, an online financial services company now known as PayPal.
there’s probably a bit of brand value in the fact that a significant % of the world’s population knows what a “tweet” is
As a predictable consequence of another one of his many controversial Twitter-related decisions, users are irked. As one user pointed out “there’s probably a bit of brand value in the fact that a significant % of the world’s population knows what a “tweet” is.”
Another one pleaded Musk to “leave Twitter alone”, referring to a poll the CEO himself published in December 2022, asking the public if he should step down as the head of Twitter. 57% of the poll voted ‘Yes’, but it seems Musk has no intention to abide.
In the world of batteries, Osaka stands tall as the largest battery manufacturer in Pakistan, boasting a sprawling manufacturing plant spread over 35 acres of land. This distinction alone speaks volumes about the brand’s dominance in the market. But what sets Osaka apart and positions it as the leading battery brand in Pakistan?
Let’s explore the superiority points that make Osaka shine.
Osaka manufactures batteries for both industrial and residential usage, catering to a wide range of customer needs. Whether it’s powering heavy machinery in factories or providing reliable energy storage for homes, Osaka has established itself as a trusted provider of high-quality batteries.
Not only does Osaka excel in the domestic market, but it has also earned the reputation of being Pakistan’s leading battery exporter. With a presence in over 20 countries across South East Asia, the Far East, Middle East, and Africa, Osaka has successfully captured international markets, showcasing its commitment to global excellence.
To ensure the highest quality and reliability, Osaka adheres to international product standards such as the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), Deutsches Institute Fur Normung (DIN), and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC).
This compliance not only demonstrates Osaka’s dedication to delivering top-notch products but also assures customers of their superior quality and performance. Additionally, Osaka proudly meets the standards set by the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), further solidifying its commitment to excellence within the domestic market.
The accolades garnered by Osaka speak volumes about its commitment to industrial standards and marketing excellence. The brand has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, further cementing its position as an industry leader in Pakistan.
One of Osaka’s significant strengths lies in its extensive dealer network, which is the largest in Pakistan. With nine regional offices and customer care centers spanning the nation, as well as over 600 mega clients and countless sub-dealers, Osaka ensures easy access to its products and efficient customer support services. This expansive network showcases the brand’s dedication to serving customers nationwide, solidifying its position as a market leader.
In addition to their battery manufacturing prowess, Osaka also pioneers cost-effective and sustainable solar energy solutions. Their recently launched #SoorajBabaReturns campaign highlights the transformative impact of their solar batteries on small businesses and communities. Real-life success stories of entrepreneurs, including fruit sellers, salon owners, tailors, and farmers, demonstrate how Osaka’s solar energy solutions have propelled their businesses to new heights of growth and profitability. The campaign also emphasizes how middle-class families have escaped the burden of high electricity bills, embracing luxuries like air conditioners with newfound freedom.
As the battery industry experiences rapid growth driven by increasing demands, Osaka aims to meet this demand head-on. The brand is committed to setting new industry standards, playing a prominent role in the economic growth of Pakistan, and ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the nation.
With its expansive manufacturing capabilities, adherence to international standards, industry accolades, nationwide dealer network, and commitment to sustainable energy solutions, Osaka continues to power Pakistan’s future as the leading battery brand.
In a nail-biting final at the World Junior Squash Championship, Pakistan’s rising star, Hamza Khan, secured a sensational victory against Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria in Melbourne on Sunday.
The epic battle witnessed Hamza’s remarkable tenacity as he staged a sensational comeback after losing the first game. The scoreboard read 10-12, 14-12, 11-3, and 11-6 in favor of Hamza, making him the first player from Pakistan to achieve this triumph since Jansher Khan’s victory 37 years ago.
Throughout the tournament, Hamza’s skills shone brightly, conquering formidable opponents to reach the pinnacle of the event. His semi-final clash against French player Melvil Scianimanico left spectators in awe, as Hamza defied the odds to secure a thrilling win.
With this historic triumph, Hamza Khan’s name is now etched in the illustrious history of the World Junior Squash Championship.
In a significant corruption case, helicopter spare parts worth Rs7 billion were illegally cleared from the air freight units (AFUs) through a nexus involving Customs officials and clearing agents.
The Customs Collector Islamabad has responded to the exposure of the nexus by forming a new two-member committee to investigate the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts. The committee includes an additional collector headquarters and a deputy controller preventive, who will initiate a thorough investigation into the matter.
Prior to this, a previous probe committee had already exonerated the Customs officials, including a superintendent who had admitted to being on duty at the Royal Shade during the time of the alleged illegal clearance. However, with the emergence of new evidence, a fresh inquiry has become necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.
Separately, a Customs officer named Imran was suspended after a video of him demanding a bribe from a passenger at the Lahore airport went viral. In the video, the officer can be seen soliciting $100 from a Canada-bound passenger who was carrying $9,500, and he threatened to seize all the money if the passenger did not comply. According to Customs law, passengers are not allowed to carry $9,500 in currency abroad to prevent illicit transactions and money laundering.
Following the circulation of the video, the deputy collector customs took swift action by suspending the officer and directing him to report to headquarters, demonstrating the commitment to address misconduct and uphold integrity within the Customs department.
The exposure of the helicopter spare parts corruption case and the subsequent investigation by the newly-formed committee signify a strong stance against corruption and malpractices within the Customs department. As the inquiry progresses, it is expected that appropriate measures will be taken to hold those involved in the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts accountable.
The disciplinary actions taken against the Customs officer involved in bribery further emphasise the department’s dedication to ethical conduct in its operations.
Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ opened in theatres across the world this weekend, with Cillian Murphy putting in a critically acclaimed performance as the American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.
One of the most pivotal moments about the film was Oppenheimer’s deep respect and admiration of the Hindu text ‘Bhagavad Gita’ which is part of the ‘Mahabharata’. The epic contains a dialogue between Prince Arjun and the divine Krishna as the former struggles with a moral dilemna. Oppenheimer famously quoted the lines ‘Now I am become death. Destroyer of the worlds’ after the first detonation of the atomic bomb on July 16, 1945.
Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father’ of the atomic bomb had quoted a line from the Bhagavad-Gita after first detonation of a nuclear weapon on July 16, 1945. Now Cillian Murphy says he read the Bhagavad Gita to prepare for “Oppenheimer” movie, a biopic of Robert Oppenheimer. pic.twitter.com/FO0LmYO4aE
However, a controversy arose from a sex scene between Jean Tatlock (played by Florence Pugh) and Oppenheimer, when she searches his book shelf, finds the Bhagavad Gita and holds it to her bare chest and asks Oppenheimer to recite the text while continuing intercourse.
Hindus on Twitter have slammed the scene as insulting and insensitive towards their religion, with many calling for the government to ban ‘Oppenheimer’ in the country.
I’m calling for a boycott of the movie Oppenheimer. I just learned there is a highly offensive scene involving the Bhagavad Gita in it. I will not repeat it here, but it involves something explicit. Never trust Hollywood and West to depict Hinduism positively and accurately.
In a recent development, the caretaker government of Punjab has taken a decision to acquire 200 new vehicles at a total cost of Rs2.3 billion, raising concerns about the use of taxpayer money on luxury vehicles for bureaucrats.
According to reliable sources, the financing for this purchase will be drawn from the tax revenue contributed by the public, prompting scrutiny over the allocation of such a substantial amount for the benefit of government officials.
A letter has been issued requesting the release of advance funds from the finance ministry to facilitate the acquisition process. The Assistant Commissioners throughout Punjab are slated to get Toyota Corolla Altis 1600cc vehicles, while Deputy Commissioners in each district will be given Toyota Yaris. At the Tehsil level, Assistant Commissioners will be provided with Double Cabin vehicles, as per an official notification.
However, amidst this decision, a concerned citizen has taken legal action by filing a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking the removal of Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and his cabinet members from office. The petitioner argues that the caretaker government’s term has exceeded its constitutional mandate.
The petitioner contends that although the Supreme Court has extended the election date in the province, it has not extended the tenure of the caretaker government. Consequently, the continued occupation of office by Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi and his cabinet is perceived as a breach of the constitution and raises questions about its constitutional legitimacy.
As the situation unfolds, public attention remains focused on the utilisation of public funds for bureaucratic privileges, while the legal challenge adds further complexity to the already contentious political landscape in Punjab.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz arrived in Dubai to meet the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) top leaders to discuss the upcoming caretaker government in the country after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived Friday night at Dubai’s Al-Maktoum airport in a private plane after taking off from Karachi.
The heads of the two parties will consult with each other on who will be the caretaker prime minister in the interim government after the dissolution of assemblies in the country.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be consulted in the matter of the upcoming caretaker setup as well. Maulana is in Karachi now and will travel to Dubai next week.
In a groundbreaking test of Earth’s planetary defenses, NASA’s DART probe successfully knocked an asteroid off its trajectory, creating a dazzling display of boulders hurtling into space.
The story was shared by Dawn with images of the historic experiment. Last year’s momentous collision between the fridge-sized spacecraft and the pyramid-sized, rugby ball-shaped asteroid Dimorphos, situated 11 million kilometers from Earth, yielded astonishing results, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The images were released on Thursday.
Astonishing Aftermath Unveiled:
Newly released images from the Hubble Space Telescope unveiled the extraordinary aftermath of the DART mission. A total of 37 boulders, ranging in size from one to seven meters in diameter, were sent floating into the cosmos. These boulders represent approximately two percent of the loosely-held-together asteroid’s surface, as estimated in a recent study by scientists.
Unraveling the Secrets:
Scientists are eager to continue tracking the trajectory of these celestial boulders, as their movement patterns hold crucial clues about how they were propelled from the asteroid’s surface. The research, detailed in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, offers invaluable insights into asteroid deflection techniques and potential strategies for planetary defense.
Insights for Future Asteroid Defense:
The findings hold significant implications for future missions aimed at diverting potentially life-threatening asteroids on a collision course with Earth. While the images might raise concerns about boulder dispersion towards Earth, experts reassure that these specific rocks pose no threat. The successful DART mission sets an encouraging precedent for safeguarding our planet against potential asteroid threats and lays the groundwork for future endeavors to protect Earth from space hazards.
